Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (98 page)

             
His
companions
seized
anything
that
came
to
hand
and
rained
blows
on
the
thrashing
shark
as
it
flung
its
victim
from
side
to
side.
It
was
over
as
quickly
as
it
had
begun
and
the
shaken
party
struggled
ashore
bearing
the
grisly
remains
of
their
now
lifeless
companion.
Laying
the
torn
torso
and
bloodied
limbs
on
the
sand
they
stood
uncertainly
as
the
Master
'
s
Mate
sent
a
boy
to
fetch
the
lieutenant.

             
"
T
'
beast
'
as
done
fer
'
im,
sor.
"
He
reported
to
Lieutenant
Beasley.
"
I
reckons
'
e
were
dead
afore
we
even
managed
ter
get
near.
"

             
The
lieutenant
surveyed
the
torn
body,
noting
a
missing
leg,
part
of
the
hips
and
lower
torso.
"
Cover
him
decently,
Pringle.
And
everyone
stay
out
of
the
water,
that
beast
will
be
lurking
somewhere.
"
To
Midshipman
Tanner
now
hurrying
to
the
scene
he
called,
"
Take
the
boat
back
to
the
ship
and
fetch
the
surgeon.
"

***

             
"
It
was
ghastly,
sir.
"
Lieutenant
Beasley
reported
to
the
Captain.
"
Jameson
was
not
deeper
than
his
waist
in
the
water
and
the
beast
seemed
to
rise
from
the
sea
and
snatched
him
before
he
could
even
turn
to
escape.
It
took
his
legs
and
then
flung
him
aside
only
to
seize
him
again
and
tear
him
in
two.
He
was
dead
when
we
managed
to
drive
the
creature
off.
"

             
"
Well,
Michael,
Thomas,
"
Captain
Blackwood
said
thoughtfully
gazing
across
the
harbour.
"
Warn
the
men
that
they
must
exercise
great
care
near
the
water.
These
sharks
are
ferocious
and
evidently
have
a
taste
for
human
flesh.
And
stop
the
Midshipmen
from
their
new
sport
of
swimming
if
you
please.
We
have
lost
one
to
a
storm,
one
to
a
snake
and
another
to
the
sunburn
–
or
heat
exhaustion
I
think
the
Sawbones
called
it.
I
'
ve
no
desire
to
lose
another
to
these
sharks.
"

             
"
Quite
so,
sir,
"
the
First
Lieutenant
agreed,
"
I
shall
make
your
instruction
known
immediately.
"

             
Harry
and
several
others
were
disappointed
when
this
instruction
was
given.

             
"
Blow,
"
exclaimed
Harry.
He
enjoyed
these
excursions
and
the
opportunity
to
swim.
Now
he
felt
a
more
potent
expletive
might
have
been
more
appropriate
when
told
of
the
order.
"
Our
swimming
is
the
one
thing
that
makes
this
infernal
heat
bearable.
"

             
They
had
discovered
the
pleasures
of
swimming
and
disporting
themselves
in
the
water
all
too
recently.
It
gave
them
a
welcome
relief
from
routine
and
a
means
of
cooling
their
bodies
after
a
day
spent
toiling
over
a
slate
or
some
other
activity.
It
had
become
the
practice
for
as
many
as
were
off
watch
to
take
a
boat
in
the
Dog
Watch
to
a
small
beach
beyond
the
great
prison
rising
on
an
islet
named
for
the
birds
that
had
flocked
there.

             
Kit
Tanner,
one
of
the
stronger
swimmers,
agreed.
"
It
cools
the
blood
and
is
good
sport
too.
"
He
looked
at
the
disappointed
faces
around
him
and
said,
"
A
curse
on
these
beasts.
We
have
just
found
a
sport
we
can
enjoy
without
restriction
and
now
it
is
snatched
from
us.
"

             
It
was
Dick
Peterson
who
gave
a
voice
to
their
hope
of
a
reprieve.
"
Sir,
can
we
not
find
another
place
where
the
sharks
will
not
attack
us?
"

             
"
I
doubt
such
a
place
exists
here,
Mister
Peterson,
"
the
second
lieutenant
told
him.
"
Besides
we
are
sailing
within
the
next
few
days,
so
you
will
not
suffer
any
hardship
by
the
loss
of
this
temporary
privilege.
"

             
Reluctantly
the
midshipmen
had
no
choice
but
to
agree.
So
it
was
a
relief
when,
three
days
later,
the
ship
made
use
of
a
change
in
the
wind
direction
to
get
underway.
Clear
of
the
heads
she
turned
with
the
wind
over
her
quarter
and
began
to
make
her
way
northwards.
The
embarkation,
just
before
their
departure,
of
Captain
Te
Water
and
his
passengers
provided
a
small
disruption
to
the
Gunroom
and
the
other
officers.
Harry
once
more
found
himself
the
chosen
shepherd
of
Pieterzoon
and
his
companions.